Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research

Labor Market Information - State of Connecticut Labor Situation

State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: October 19, 2017

	Nonfarm jobs decline 2,000 in September; unemployment rate falls to 4.6%
	WETHERSFIELD, October 19, 2017 - Preliminary Connecticut nonfarm job estimates from the business payroll survey administered by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show the state lost 2,000 net jobs (-0.1%) in September 2017, to a level of 1,684,900, seasonally adjusted. Over the year, nonagricultural employment in the state grew by 3,500 jobs (0.2%). August's originally-released job loss of 3,900 was revised down by the BLS to a loss of 4,200. The number of the state's unemployed residents fell by 5,032, while the number of residents employed also fell by 4,344. As a result, Connecticut's unemployment rate fell by two-tenths of a point to 4.6% in September, seasonally adjusted. Resident employment estimates include the self-employed and residents working out of state and are determined separately from the nonfarm payroll job estimates above. “September's decline of 2,000 seasonally adjusted payroll jobs caps a slow third quarter for Connecticut job growth,” said Andy Condon, Director of the Office of Research. “Annual job growth is now only 3,500, though the private sector is doing considerably better. Yet, at the same time, the state's unemployment rate fell to a quite low 4.6%.”

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Private Sector employment fell by 1,100 (-0.1%) to 1,453,000 jobs over the month in September, but remains up by 7,100 jobs (0.5%) over the year. The Government supersector also declined by 900 (-0.4%) to 231,900 jobs last month and over the year losses have grown to -3,600, -1.5%. The Government supersector includes all federal, state and local employment, including public higher education and Native American casinos located on tribal land.

Six of the ten major industry supersectors lost employment in September, while four increased. Professional and Business Services led growing industries with 1,100 net new jobs (0.5%, 217,600 total jobs). Financial Activities was next with an increase of 900 jobs (0.7%, 133,000 total). The Information contributed 300 jobs to growth, (0.9%, 32,100 jobs) and Manufacturing added 200 jobs (0.1%, 157,200 total)

On the downside, Construction and Mining dropped an estimated 1,400 jobs in September (-2.4%, 56,800 total). Leisure and Hospitality was next with a loss of 1,200 (-0.8%, 157,600 total). Education and Health Services shed 600 jobs (-0.2%, 332,700) with losses in both major categories. Trade, Transportation & Utilities, lost 300 positions (-0.1%, 297,700 total), although the retail trade component grew by 200 (0.1%). Finally, Other Services lost 100 jobs (-0.1%, 68,300 total).

Connecticut has now recovered 76.2% (90,700 jobs) of the 119,100 seasonally adjusted jobs lost in the Great Recession (3/08-2/10). The job recovery is into its 91st month and the state needs an additional 28,400 jobs to reach an overall nonfarm employment expansion. The state's Private Sector also slipped a bit in the recovery, regaining 95.3% (106,500) of the 111,700 private sector jobs lost in that same employment downturn. The Government supersector has lost a total of 23,200 positions since the recession began in March 2008.

Labor Market Information - Connecticut, Employment Sectors & United States Nonfarm Employment

		Year to Year				Month to Month				Previous Three Months
		Sep 2017	Sep 2016	Change	Rate %	Sep 2017	Aug 2017	Change	Rate %	Jul 2017	Jun 2017	May 2017
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	State of Connecticut Employment
	Connecticut Nonfarm Employment	1,684,900	1,681,400	3,500	0.2%	1,684,900	1,686,900	-2,000	-0.1%	1,691,100	1,692,800	1,687,200
	Private Sector	1,453,000	1,445,900	7,100	0.5%	1,453,000	1,454,100	-1,100	-0.1%	1,458,200	1,459,000	1,453,300

Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Goods Producing Industries
	Construction	56,200	58,700	-2,500	-4.3%	56,200	57,700	-1,500	-2.6%	58,700	60,500	61,200

	Manufacturing	157,200	156,400	800	0.5%	157,200	157,000	200	0.1%	156,400	156,600	155,800
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	Service Providing Industries
	Transportation and Public Utilities	297,700	299,300	-1,600	-0.5%	297,700	298,000	-300	-0.1%	299,900	298,200	297,800

	Information	32,100	32,200	-100	-0.3%	32,100	31,800	300	0.9%	31,800	31,900	31,300

	Financial Activities	133,000	129,700	3,300	2.5%	133,000	132,100	900	0.7%	133,000	132,800	132,300

	Professional and Business Services	217,600	218,900	-1,300	-0.6%	217,600	216,500	1,100	0.5%	216,400	216,300	216,800

	Educational and Health Services	332,700	330,700	2,000	0.6%	332,700	333,300	-600	-0.2%	333,400	333,200	333,200

	Leisure and Hospitality	157,600	154,600	3,000	1.9%	157,600	158,800	-1,200	-0.8%	159,100	161,100	156,700

	Other Services	68,300	64,800	3,500	5.4%	68,300	68,400	-100	-0.1%	68,900	67,800	67,600

	Government	231,900	235,500	-3,600	-1.5%	231,900	232,800	-900	-0.4%	232,900	233,800	233,900
Graph	Follow link below for more charts & data	United States Employment
	United States Nonfarm Employment	146,659,000	144,882,000	1,777,000	1.2%	146,659,000	146,692,000	-33,000	-0.0%	146,523,000	146,385,000	146,175,000

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Three of the six LMAs that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS saw job losses in September 2017 and two were unchanged. Only the New Haven LMA saw job gains in September (1,200, 0.4%, 286,100 total). New Haven LMA now leads the state in job growth in both numeric and percentage terms. The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA led declines (-2,100, -0.4%, 571,200). The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk LMA dropped by 200 (-0.0, 411,000 total) and the Danbury LMA saw a small loss of 100 jobs (-0.1%, 79,800 total). The Norwich-New London-Westerly LMA and the Waterbury LMA were both unchanged. Note: Six major Connecticut LMAs are estimated independently from the statewide data by the BLS and cover more than 90% of the nonfarm employment in the state. Thus, estimates will not fully sum to the statewide total.

Hours and Earnings: The Private Sector, workweek, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.8 hours in September 2017, down one-tenth of an hour from the same month a year ago. Average hourly earnings at $30.92, not seasonally adjusted, were up $0.54 (1.8%) from the September 2016 estimate ($30.38). The resultant average Private Sector weekly pay amounted to $1,045.10, up $15.22 from a year ago (1.5%).

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Sep		CHG	Aug	Sep		CHG	Aug	Sep		CHG	Aug
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2017	2016	Y/Y	2017	2017	2016	Y/Y	2017	2017	2016	Y/Y	2017
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,026.24	$1,114.11	-$87.88	$1,068.83	41.7	42.9	-1.2	41.8	$24.61	$25.97	-$1.36	$25.57
DURABLE GOODS	1,059.19	1,160.52	-101.32	1,096.28	42.3	43.4	-1.1	42.1	25.04	26.74	-1.70	26.04
NON-DUR. GOODS	910.40	947.42	-37.02	969.93	39.6	41.3	-1.7	40.6	22.99	22.94	0.05	23.89
CONSTRUCTION	1,209.33	1,185.64	23.69	1,169.20	40.5	39.8	0.7	39.5	29.86	29.79	0.07	29.60

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,045.10	1,029.88	15.21	1,038.63	33.8	33.9	-0.1	33.7	30.92	30.38	0.54	30.82
GOODS PRODUCING	1,217.16	1,262.66	-45.50	1,231.65	39.2	40.6	-1.4	39.1	31.05	31.10	-0.05	31.50
Construction	1,199.28	1,230.12	-30.84	1,221.00	38.5	39.9	-1.4	38.3	31.15	30.83	0.32	31.88
Manufacturing	1,213.23	1,272.64	-59.41	1,235.86	39.7	41.0	-1.3	39.7	30.56	31.04	-0.48	31.13
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,013.19	988.19	25.00	1,005.98	32.8	32.7	0.1	32.8	30.89	30.22	0.67	30.67
Trade, Transp., Utilities	867.57	888.44	-20.87	850.18	33.0	33.3	-0.3	32.4	26.29	26.68	-0.39	26.24
Financial Activities	1,718.06	1,650.58	67.48	1,729.75	36.9	37.1	-0.2	37.0	46.56	44.49	2.07	46.75
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,258.12	1,226.00	32.11	1,249.50	35.4	34.8	0.6	35.7	35.54	35.23	0.31	35.00
Education & Health Ser.	936.98	912.23	24.75	927.88	32.5	32.2	0.3	32.5	28.83	28.33	0.50	28.55
Leisure & Hospitality	436.39	418.14	18.25	435.36	25.7	25.7	0.0	25.7	16.98	16.27	0.71	16.94
Other Services	812.73	741.24	71.48	807.83	32.2	32.2	0.0	32.6	25.24	23.02	2.22	24.78

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford	1,140.61	1,138.05	2.56	1,127.28	33.4	33.8	-0.4	33.6	34.15	33.67	0.48	33.55
Danbury	944.95	963.64	-18.69	927.46	33.7	33.8	-0.1	33.1	28.04	28.51	-0.47	28.02
Hartford	1,075.00	1,072.25	2.75	1,075.99	34.4	34.6	-0.2	34.3	31.25	30.99	0.26	31.37
New Haven	992.86	945.88	46.98	998.33	32.8	32.9	-0.1	32.7	30.27	28.75	1.52	30.53
Norwich-New London	811.52	814.67	-3.15	812.49	31.7	32.6	-0.9	31.9	25.60	24.99	0.61	25.47
Waterbury	872.25	852.93	19.32	843.78	34.3	35.1	-0.8	34.3	25.43	24.30	1.13	24.60

The 12-month percent change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted) in September 2017 was 2.2%. Information for the manufacturing production workweek and earnings can be found in the table section of this release under the “Hours and Earnings” data category. Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses.

Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed

Based on the Local Area Unemployment Statistics model (LAUS - a statistical model using the CPS – Current Population Survey residential data), the number of Connecticut unemployed residents, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 5,000 (-5.4%) over the month to 87,200 in September. Over the year, the number of the state's jobless residents has decreased by 2,700 (-0.2%). The state's labor force decreased by 9,600 (-0.5%) over the month, but continued to expand over the year (23,700, 1.3%). This is the second consecutive drop in the state's labor force after nearly 18 months of gains.

September 2017 seasonally adjusted average weekly initial unemployment claims for first-time filers in Connecticut increased by 331 claimants (9.1%) to 3,956 from September 2017, but were lower by 101 claims (-2.5%) from the September 2016 level of 4,057.

Month	2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017
Month	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.
Jan	1,919.9	1,742.8	177.1	1,904.7	1,748.2	156.5	1,863.5	1,713.3	150.2	1,871.4	1,739.1	132.2	1,898.9	1,783.4	115.5	1,890.3	1,786.5	103.9	1,892.2	1,807.2	85.0
Feb	1,919.4	1,742.9	176.5	1,902.1	1,746.0	156.1	1,861.5	1,712.9	148.6	1,874.0	1,743.6	130.4	1,898.7	1,785.1	113.6	1,891.2	1,787.6	103.5	1,901.4	1,812.0	89.4
Mar	1,918.0	1,742.7	175.3	1,899.2	1,742.5	156.7	1,860.9	1,713.6	147.4	1,876.5	1,748.0	128.5	1,897.4	1,786.2	111.3	1,891.7	1,788.8	102.9	1,911.7	1,819.9	91.7
Apr	1,915.9	1,742.3	173.6	1,895.7	1,737.9	157.8	1,861.9	1,715.5	146.4	1,878.9	1,752.2	126.7	1,895.2	1,786.4	108.8	1,892.2	1,790.2	102.0	1,922.5	1,828.9	93.6
May	1,913.7	1,742.0	171.6	1,892.0	1,732.8	159.2	1,863.8	1,718.2	145.6	1,881.1	1,756.3	124.8	1,892.4	1,786.1	106.3	1,892.5	1,791.8	100.6	1,929.1	1,834.0	95.1
Jun	1,911.8	1,742.3	169.4	1,888.1	1,727.9	160.2	1,865.7	1,720.9	144.7	1,883.4	1,760.3	123.2	1,889.5	1,785.3	104.2	1,892.5	1,793.8	98.8	1,933.1	1,836.1	97.0
Jul	1,910.5	1,743.3	167.2	1,884.3	1,723.8	160.6	1,866.8	1,723.2	143.6	1,886.0	1,764.1	121.9	1,887.2	1,784.5	102.8	1,892.1	1,795.9	96.2	1,933.1	1,836.6	96.5
Aug	1,909.8	1,744.9	164.9	1,880.8	1,720.8	160.0	1,867.2	1,725.1	142.1	1,888.8	1,767.8	121.0	1,885.9	1,783.7	102.2	1,891.3	1,798.2	93.1	1,923.2	1,831.0	92.2
Sep	1,909.3	1,746.5	162.8	1,877.4	1,718.8	158.6	1,867.0	1,726.8	140.2	1,891.6	1,771.4	120.2	1,885.6	1,783.3	102.3	1,890.1	1,800.2	89.9	1,913.8	1,826.7	87.2
Oct	1,908.7	1,747.9	160.8	1,874.0	1,717.3	156.6	1,867.0	1,728.9	138.1	1,894.4	1,775.0	119.4	1,886.3	1,783.4	102.9	1,888.8	1,801.9	86.9
Nov	1,907.7	1,748.7	159.0	1,870.3	1,715.9	154.4	1,867.6	1,731.5	136.1	1,896.6	1,778.3	118.4	1,887.7	1,784.2	103.5	1,887.5	1,803.2	84.3
Dec	1,906.2	1,748.6	157.6	1,866.7	1,714.5	152.2	1,869.1	1,735.0	134.1	1,898.2	1,781.1	117.1	1,889.2	1,785.3	103.9	1,886.2	1,804.1	82.1

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The September 2017 unemployment rate for Connecticut is estimated at 4.6% (seasonally adjusted), down two-tenths from September 2017 and down two-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.8%. The US jobless rate in September 2017 was 4.2%, down two-tenths point from 4.4% in August.

Month	2009			2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017
Month	CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.
Jan	7.0	7.8	0.8	9.0	9.8	0.8	9.2	9.1	-0.1	8.2	8.3	0.1	8.1	8.0	-0.1	7.1	6.6	-0.5	6.1	5.7	-0.4	5.5	4.9	-0.6	4.5	4.8	0.3
Feb	7.2	8.3	1.1	9.0	9.8	0.8	9.2	9.0	-0.2	8.2	8.3	0.1	8.0	7.7	-0.3	7.0	6.7	-0.3	6.0	5.5	-0.5	5.5	4.9	-0.6	4.7	4.7	0.0
Mar	7.5	8.7	1.2	9.1	9.9	0.8	9.1	9.0	-0.1	8.2	8.2	0.0	7.9	7.5	-0.4	6.9	6.7	-0.2	5.9	5.4	-0.5	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.8	4.5	-0.3
Apr	7.7	9.0	1.3	9.1	9.9	0.8	9.1	9.1	0.0	8.3	8.2	-0.1	7.9	7.6	-0.3	6.7	6.2	-0.5	5.7	5.4	-0.3	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.9	4.4	-0.5
May	7.9	9.4	1.5	9.1	9.6	0.5	9.0	9.0	0.0	8.4	8.2	-0.2	7.8	7.5	-0.3	6.6	6.3	-0.3	5.6	5.5	-0.1	5.3	4.7	-0.6	4.9	4.3	-0.6
Jun	8.1	9.5	1.4	9.1	9.4	0.3	8.9	9.1	0.2	8.5	8.2	-0.3	7.8	7.5	-0.3	6.5	6.1	-0.4	5.5	5.3	-0.2	5.2	4.9	-0.3	5.0	4.4	-0.6
Jul	8.2	9.5	1.3	9.1	9.4	0.3	8.7	9.0	0.3	8.5	8.2	-0.3	7.7	7.3	-0.4	6.5	6.2	-0.3	5.4	5.2	-0.2	5.1	4.9	-0.2	5.0	4.3	-0.7
Aug	8.4	9.6	1.2	9.1	9.5	0.4	8.6	9.0	0.4	8.5	8.1	-0.4	7.6	7.3	-0.3	6.4	6.2	-0.2	5.4	5.1	-0.3	4.9	4.9	0.0	4.8	4.4	-0.4
Sep	8.5	9.8	1.3	9.1	9.5	0.4	8.5	9.0	0.5	8.4	7.8	-0.6	7.5	7.2	-0.3	6.4	5.9	-0.5	5.4	5.0	-0.4	4.8	4.9	0.1	4.6	4.2	-0.4
Oct	8.6	10.0	1.4	9.2	9.4	0.2	8.4	8.8	0.4	8.4	7.8	-0.6	7.4	7.2	-0.2	6.3	5.7	-0.6	5.5	5.0	-0.5	4.6	4.8	0.2
Nov	8.8	9.9	1.1	9.2	9.8	0.6	8.3	8.6	0.3	8.3	7.7	-0.6	7.3	6.9	-0.4	6.2	5.8	-0.4	5.5	5.0	-0.5	4.5	4.6	0.1
Dec	8.9	9.9	1.0	9.2	9.3	0.1	8.3	8.5	0.2	8.2	7.9	-0.3	7.2	6.7	-0.5	6.2	5.6	-0.6	5.5	5.0	-0.5	4.4	4.7	0.3

The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey, and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Overall, as the national and state economies recover, volatility in monthly numbers can be expected. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Next Connecticut Labor Situation release: Thursday, November 16, 2017 (October 2017 data)


	State of Connecticut Department of Labor - Office of Research 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109 / Phone: 860-263-6275 LMI Home \| CTDOL Home \| CT.gov \| Feedback \| Disclaimer \| Privacy Policy \| Accessibility Policy This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. (more)